Josie's first day impressions on her new job were mixed. The only familiar aspect was the location of the store. Much of the interior has been redesigned and procedures have changed for just about every aspect of the job. It will take some getting used to and a learning process that she didn't anticipate going through. All of the employees at that location are fairly new and they thought that she was hired to manage that store. It isn't out of the question but, right now, she has other priorities. It is going to be an interesting experience, for sure. The commute is just a couple minutes longer than the last shop she worked at with Phoenix Flower Shops but not enough to cause concern. Time will tell.
The Monday Night Football game between the Seahawks and Falcons was entertaining, but did not produce the desired outcome. The Seahawks, after falling behind with their patented dumb mistakes and giveaways, had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but missed a makeable field goal and lost 34-31. They definitely miss some key players that are injured, but so do the Falcons. The rest of the season should be interesting with the very tough schedule remaining for the Seahawks. This season has been full of injuries to key players on many of the favored teams, including the Cardinals.
It is suppose to warm up for the holiday this week and we could potentially have the warmest Thanksgiving on record. The forecast is for 89 for Thanksgiving Day which would break the old record of 87. Just what we need...
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Ready for New Experience
We had a nice, relaxing day yesterday for Josie's final day before starting her new job today. She is nervous as you can expect, but I'm sure she will be fine as soon as she begins to get familiar with her new surroundings. Actually, they aren't new except for the people she will be working with. Her previous experience with Cactus Flower ended at this same shop almost ten years ago. The company has gone through some dramatic changes since then.
It was not a very good football day yesterday for the Cardinals fans. The game became ugly as the third string quarterback was terrible in the second half and the Cardinals gave away the game to the Houston Texans, 31-21. It sure looks like the Cardinals will be struggling for the rest of the season.
The Seahawks will play tonight against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. I am concerned about them also, as they have lots of injuries to key players and may struggle like the Cardinals. I hope not.
Good luck to Josie today on her inaugural day at her new job...
It was not a very good football day yesterday for the Cardinals fans. The game became ugly as the third string quarterback was terrible in the second half and the Cardinals gave away the game to the Houston Texans, 31-21. It sure looks like the Cardinals will be struggling for the rest of the season.
The Seahawks will play tonight against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. I am concerned about them also, as they have lots of injuries to key players and may struggle like the Cardinals. I hope not.
Good luck to Josie today on her inaugural day at her new job...
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Another Drive By
Our main objective yesterday was to do a drive-by on another potential rental home. It actually was a pretty decent home, but had a couple negatives. First, the photos from our visit to the home which was off the Carefree Highway, fairly close to where Josie would work at the Cave Creek store location:
First, the positives: It was on a nearly 2 acre parcel, had a swimming pool, lots of room for the RV, a completely renovated manufactured home with 1800 S.F., the rent was in the acceptable range, convenient to Cave Creek and 67th Ave store locations.
The negatives: It was off a dirt road, swimming pool was tiny, no garage, surrounded by horse properties which will smell in the hot summer, landscaping was almost all agave's - some of which were dead, rather small covered rear porch area.
So far, it probably comes the closest to what would work for us but we are glad we still have lots of time to continue the search.
Today will be the final day off for Josie before starting work at her new job tomorrow. We will try to enjoy the day and get lots of relaxation...
First, the positives: It was on a nearly 2 acre parcel, had a swimming pool, lots of room for the RV, a completely renovated manufactured home with 1800 S.F., the rent was in the acceptable range, convenient to Cave Creek and 67th Ave store locations.
The negatives: It was off a dirt road, swimming pool was tiny, no garage, surrounded by horse properties which will smell in the hot summer, landscaping was almost all agave's - some of which were dead, rather small covered rear porch area.
So far, it probably comes the closest to what would work for us but we are glad we still have lots of time to continue the search.
Today will be the final day off for Josie before starting work at her new job tomorrow. We will try to enjoy the day and get lots of relaxation...
Saturday, November 18, 2017
History
The Phoenix Flower Shops are now history in Josie's working career. Her final day was yesterday and it was kind of sad leaving a place that has been part of your life for the last ten years, At least during the winter seasons of those years. There was a farewell cake brought in for the occasion and the manager said to give her a call if, for any reason, the new job doesn't work for her. Monday begins Chapter 2 at Cactus Flower Florist and we're hoping that this experience goes well.
I took our 2015 Escape in for scheduled service yesterday. Part of the plan was to eliminate the aftermarket alarm system that was in the vehicle when we purchased it a couple years ago. It turns out that the alarm system is a Code Alarm product that was probably installed by one of the Larry Miller dealerships. My Ford dealer said he could uninstall it for $150. No way. There are also transmitters that are missing which would help us in programming the system. Evidently, they got lost or the previous owner neglected to pass them on. At any rate, I did research on the internet and found a way - I think - to disarm the system without the transmitters. I will wait for the proper time to attempt that task when my neighbors are gone for the day or out and about so that any panic alarm sounds won't bother anybody if there is a problem. That should be an interesting exercise.
We plan to take another "drive-by" of one of the rentals that we are looking at that is between here and Cave Creek. It looks like a nice place with almost two acres, a pool and almost 1800 S.F. with three bedrooms. The property has lots of room for an RV, so we are anxious to take a look. Of course, we can't do anything if it is the perfect place for us until our home in Glendale sells. At least we can get satisfaction knowing that there are places that fit the bill for us. We'll try to get some photos today...
I took our 2015 Escape in for scheduled service yesterday. Part of the plan was to eliminate the aftermarket alarm system that was in the vehicle when we purchased it a couple years ago. It turns out that the alarm system is a Code Alarm product that was probably installed by one of the Larry Miller dealerships. My Ford dealer said he could uninstall it for $150. No way. There are also transmitters that are missing which would help us in programming the system. Evidently, they got lost or the previous owner neglected to pass them on. At any rate, I did research on the internet and found a way - I think - to disarm the system without the transmitters. I will wait for the proper time to attempt that task when my neighbors are gone for the day or out and about so that any panic alarm sounds won't bother anybody if there is a problem. That should be an interesting exercise.
We plan to take another "drive-by" of one of the rentals that we are looking at that is between here and Cave Creek. It looks like a nice place with almost two acres, a pool and almost 1800 S.F. with three bedrooms. The property has lots of room for an RV, so we are anxious to take a look. Of course, we can't do anything if it is the perfect place for us until our home in Glendale sells. At least we can get satisfaction knowing that there are places that fit the bill for us. We'll try to get some photos today...
Friday, November 17, 2017
Annual Ultra Sound
Yesterday was my scheduled ultra sound for the aneurism that was discovered a couple years ago. The device that was installed on the vessel has to be checked each year to make sure it is doing its job. I won't know the results of the procedure until the doctor has a chance to review them. I suspect that everything is OK as I have no complaints. The all clear call should (hopefully) be today.
Today will also be Josie's final day at Phoenix Flower Shops. It is ironic that now that she is leaving, they are giving her all the hours she had been seeking. Of course, the holiday coming up has some effect on her hours. She will get the weekend off and then start at Cactus Flower on Monday at the 67th Ave location.
This morning, I will take the red Escape to the dealership in Surprise for scheduled service. I will also have the aftermarket security system deactivated, or uninstalled, as it has been nothing but a nuisance. The horn beeps each time you unlock or lock the door and sometimes, if the sequence isn't right for starting the engine, it goes into alarm mode and is difficult to shut off. Those systems have a purpose and some folks like them, but in most cases the alarms go off without it being a criminal attempt to break-in and everybody standing around within hearing distance knows that and, consequently, don't do anything except go on about their business.
It should be a nice weekend for us as we plan to do another drive by on a rental and we will probably look at some other areas for potential candidates...
Today will also be Josie's final day at Phoenix Flower Shops. It is ironic that now that she is leaving, they are giving her all the hours she had been seeking. Of course, the holiday coming up has some effect on her hours. She will get the weekend off and then start at Cactus Flower on Monday at the 67th Ave location.
This morning, I will take the red Escape to the dealership in Surprise for scheduled service. I will also have the aftermarket security system deactivated, or uninstalled, as it has been nothing but a nuisance. The horn beeps each time you unlock or lock the door and sometimes, if the sequence isn't right for starting the engine, it goes into alarm mode and is difficult to shut off. Those systems have a purpose and some folks like them, but in most cases the alarms go off without it being a criminal attempt to break-in and everybody standing around within hearing distance knows that and, consequently, don't do anything except go on about their business.
It should be a nice weekend for us as we plan to do another drive by on a rental and we will probably look at some other areas for potential candidates...
Thursday, November 16, 2017
RV Repairs
As I was going to the store yesterday, I passed a site where there were two vans parked and about 5 men who were replacing a motor home windshield. The vans were plastered with advertising for their window repair business (Glass Commander) which included all kinds of windows for businesses, homes and RV's. I stopped and talked to the "lead" person in the group about repairing a couple of our windows in the RV. He said he would stop by our site and take a look at them. Well, it was a couple hours later when he finally made it over to our RV and we talked about replacing/repairing a couple of our windows that have lost their seal. We have thermo-pane, or dual pane windows, and two of them are in pretty bad shape as far as being crystal clear. The main one, the rear window, is the largest and worst of the two. His estimate for repairing the windows was out of sight so we will probably live with them for awhile.
Our RV is getting to the age (10 years) where these problems will begin to occur. There are other areas of the RV that need attention and that is one of the main reasons why we are looking for a home where we can park the RV outside so that it is convenient for performing these repairs. The repairs list is growing and that will be the only way we will get them done. Fixing these problems at the resort is not a consideration for several reasons. The main one is that the RV needs to be emptied of much of the contents to effectively have access to the areas where we need to perform the repairs. The windows issue is another reason - we cannot go for any length of time without the windows as long as we are living in the rig. The option of taking the RV to the dealer and leaving it for the repairs is not a good one. The expense would be prohibitive and would have to be performed all at once.
This RV has, basically, been our main home for almost ten years and is getting tired and showing signs that it needs some major work. All homes get that way over time and this is no exception. There is a "right" solution for us somewhere...
Our RV is getting to the age (10 years) where these problems will begin to occur. There are other areas of the RV that need attention and that is one of the main reasons why we are looking for a home where we can park the RV outside so that it is convenient for performing these repairs. The repairs list is growing and that will be the only way we will get them done. Fixing these problems at the resort is not a consideration for several reasons. The main one is that the RV needs to be emptied of much of the contents to effectively have access to the areas where we need to perform the repairs. The windows issue is another reason - we cannot go for any length of time without the windows as long as we are living in the rig. The option of taking the RV to the dealer and leaving it for the repairs is not a good one. The expense would be prohibitive and would have to be performed all at once.
This RV has, basically, been our main home for almost ten years and is getting tired and showing signs that it needs some major work. All homes get that way over time and this is no exception. There is a "right" solution for us somewhere...
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Contract Driving
It appears that I will once again help Josie's flower shop (the new one) by being a contract driver during holidays. I used to do that before, and it was a great way to help the shop and also make a few extra bucks. I don't mind doing it and it is a huge help for the stores. So, I signed up to drive next Wednesday which is the day before Thanksgiving. I'm sure I will also be driving for other holidays.
We are getting down to the short strokes on our home rental. We will make sure that all regularly scheduled services know that the home will be put on the market in January, and that the services will stop. It is mainly the landscaping service that needs to be given notice, but our pool service guy will also be informed.
I went to the fitness center here at the resort for the first time in about 7 months. Yes, I am out of shape and need to ease into this exercise regimen. It will probably take a couple weeks before I can get back to doing the treadmill at the settings I was used to doing previously. At least I will be getting some much needed workouts from now on.
Josie has three more days before leaving Phoenix Flower Shops for good. As I said before, they will miss her talent and work ethic. Their loss is Cactus Flower's gain...
We are getting down to the short strokes on our home rental. We will make sure that all regularly scheduled services know that the home will be put on the market in January, and that the services will stop. It is mainly the landscaping service that needs to be given notice, but our pool service guy will also be informed.
I went to the fitness center here at the resort for the first time in about 7 months. Yes, I am out of shape and need to ease into this exercise regimen. It will probably take a couple weeks before I can get back to doing the treadmill at the settings I was used to doing previously. At least I will be getting some much needed workouts from now on.
Josie has three more days before leaving Phoenix Flower Shops for good. As I said before, they will miss her talent and work ethic. Their loss is Cactus Flower's gain...
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